* Weather concerns prompt delay to Tuesday
* Officials to consolidate four-day event into three
(Adds details, quotes, background)
By Deborah Charles
TAMPA, Aug 25 (Reuters) – U.S. Republicans will delay the
start of business at their national convention in Tampa, Florida
by one day due to Tropical Storm Isaac, the Republican National
Committee chairman said on Saturday.
Chairman Reince Priebus said the convention – originally
scheduled to be a four-day extravaganza of pomp and party
celebration – would convene on Monday as scheduled but then
immediately recess until Tuesday afternoon.
The convention is due to formally nominate Mitt Romney and
Paul Ryan as presidential and vice presidential candidates to
challenge Democratic President Barack Obama and Vice President
Joe Biden in the Nov. 6 election.
“Due to the severe weather reports for the Tampa Bay area,
the Republican National Convention is going to convene on Monday
August 27th and then immediately recess until Tuesday afternoon,
August 28th,” Priebus told reporters in a telephone briefing.
He said members of the RNC, the Romney staff and officials
who are running the convention made the decision unanimously in
light of the weather situation.
Tropical Storm Isaac storm has pummeled Haiti, killing at
least four people and has now moved on to Cuba.
Fueled by warm Gulf waters, Isaac was forecast to strengthen
into a Category 2 hurricane with 100-mph (160-kph) winds and hit
the U.S. coast somewhere between the Florida Panhandle and New
Orleans around midweek.
Officials expect to have a better idea of how badly the
storm will impact the Tampa area by Sunday.
“The Republican convention is going to take place. We know
that we will officially nominate Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan,”
said Priebus. He added that party officials were working with
Florida state officials and emergency management to ensure the
safety of everyone attending the convention.
Russ Schriefer, a representative from the Romney campaign,
said they would adjust times and try to fit in as many speakers
as possible in three days instead of the planned four-day event.
“I think the important thing is that, even as .. the days
will be abbreviated, … we’ll absolutely be able to get our
message out,” Schriefer said.
“We have the opportunity to tell the American people the
story of the last four years, how President Obama’s failed
leadership has failed this country and how Mitt Romney … can
provide a better future for Americans.”
The Republican convention will bring 50,000 visitors to the
Tampa-St. Petersburg area, home to well over 4 million people.
Over the last few days local authorities have said they could
handle the crowds and the approaching storm.
Many attendees booked earlier flights to be in place before
any bad weather. Hotels said they were ready to shift party
schedules or move outdoor events indoors.
The last Republican convention, in St. Paul, Minnesota, in
2008 was also delayed by a day due to a storm. That year,
Hurricane Gustav hit the Louisiana coast as the convention was
set to get under way.
The party, still reeling from criticism of Republican
President George W. Bush’s handling of devastating Hurricane
Katrina in 2005, rushed to delay the meeting out of respect for
Gustav’s victims.
Convention president Bill Harris said the party was ready
operationally for the event to begin but they were acting out of
an “abundance of caution” because of the uncertainty of the
weather.
“I want to make sure everyone who attends the convention is
safe and everyone who lives in Florida is not unnecessarily
injured by any activities taking place when a storm threatens,”
Harris said.
Vice President Biden, who had planned to visit Florida
during the convention but who had already canceled his Tampa
event on Tuesday because of the storm has decided to also cancel
his other events in Orlando and St. Augustine.
(Additional reporting by Steve Holland; editing by Christopher
Wilson)
